Chapter 12: The Truth Written Before I Was Born
The photograph felt heavier than it should have.
I stared at the little girl in the picture.
Me.
Three years old.
Standing beside Richard Collins.
Smiling.
Holding his hand like I trusted him.
But I didn’t remember him.
I didn’t remember that day.
I didn’t remember anything.
“How?””
My voice barely worked.
“How was I with you?””
Richard smiled.
“Because before your father discovered who I really was…”
He stepped closer.
“I was your favorite uncle.””
Victoria immediately moved forward.
“Don’t listen to him.””
Richard laughed.
“Still protecting her?””
Victoria’s eyes filled with anger.
“You destroyed this family.””
“No.””
Richard looked at her.
“You did.””
The words hit hard.
“You chose appearances over truth.””
Victoria went silent.
Because some part of her knew he was right.
But that didn’t make him innocent.
I stepped forward.
“Why?””
Richard looked at me.
“Why what?””
“Why did you do all of this?””
For the first time, his smile disappeared.
“Because your father stole my future.””
I shook my head.
“No.””
Daniel stepped beside me.
“I earned that company.””
Richard’s expression hardened.
“You were always the favorite.””
The bitterness in his voice was years old.
“Our father trusted you.””
Daniel answered calmly.
“Because I deserved it.””
Richard laughed.
“And there it is.””
He looked at me.
“That arrogance destroyed everything.””
I looked at him.
“You killed my father.””
Silence.
Then Richard smiled slightly.
“I removed an obstacle.””
Everyone reacted.
Victoria whispered:
“You admit it?””
Richard shrugged.
“After twenty years, what difference does it make?””
Daniel moved forward.
“You’re going to prison.””
Richard laughed.
“You think I came here without a plan?””
He pulled out his phone.
The screen showed a countdown.
My stomach tightened.
“What is that?””
Richard smiled.
“A reminder.””
“Of what?””
“That the truth always has a price.””
The countdown continued.
Ten minutes.
Alexander immediately stepped forward.
“What did you do?””
Richard looked at him.
“Your father was smarter than you.””
Alexander’s face changed.
“What does that mean?””
Richard smiled.
“He hid evidence.””
Daniel looked confused.
“What evidence?””
Richard looked at me.
“Your father knew someone would come after Samantha.””
My heartbeat increased.
“He left everything connected to one final file.””
I stared.
“What file?””
Richard pointed toward me.
“The file that proves who really controls the Collins empire.””
I shook my head.
“I don’t understand.””
Richard smiled.
“You will.””
Then he looked at Victoria.
“You should tell her.””
Victoria became pale.
“Tell me what?””
Nobody answered.
“Tell me.””
Victoria slowly walked toward the old desk.
Her hands trembled as she opened a hidden compartment.
Inside was a small metal box.
She placed it on the table.
“I kept this hidden for twenty years.””
Daniel stared.
“What is it?””
Victoria looked at me.
“Your father’s final letter.””
My heart stopped.
“Another letter?””
She nodded.
“The one he wrote after he realized he might not survive.””
She opened the box.
Inside was a folded piece of paper.
My name was written on it.
But this time, underneath my name was another sentence.
*Read this when you are old enough to understand why I left you everything.*
I reached for it.
My hands shook.
Slowly, I unfolded the paper.
The first line destroyed me.
*My dear Samantha,*
*If you are reading this, then I failed to protect you.*
My eyes filled with tears.
I continued.
*But there is one thing you must know.*
*Your mother did not abandon you because she stopped loving you.*
I looked at Victoria.
She was crying silently.
The letter continued.
*She abandoned you because she was forced to choose between losing you and losing your life.*
I stopped.
Everyone watched me.
Then I read the final sentence.
And my entire world changed.
*The person who betrayed me was not Richard.*
My hands froze.
A second line appeared beneath it.
*The person who betrayed me was someone Samantha trusts completely.*
I slowly lowered the letter.
Because suddenly…
I understood why my father had hidden the truth.
May you like
And why he had waited twenty years.
The traitor was still inside the mansion.
